Serena Agent Says American Will Play Again in 2006

Contrary to a report in the British newspaper The Guardian, Serena Williams' agent says the overweight and knee-injury-plagued American will not forego the remainder of the year, and will soon announce her immediate schedule to return to the court.

The Miami Herald's Michelle Kaufman spoke with Williams' agent Jill Smoller, who refuted the report.

"Serena will be in L.A. [Wednesday], and we plan to release something about the next few tournaments, but as far as I know, she has not said she won't play the rest of the year," Smoller said. "I don't know where that came from."

A return on clay could be a recipe for disaster for the out-of-shape Serena, who was thought to be taking a respite until the grasscourt season, which would favor her power game once again. Last year, elder sister Venus gave little indication of being on-task until emerging to beat Lindsay Davenport in the Wimbledon final, one of only two titles for Venus. Serena raised her lone cup in 2005 at the Australian Open.

The younger Williams sister hasn't competed since the 2006 Australian Open in January where she proclaimed herself fit, though appeared to be at her heaviest ever. In the meantime, Serena has been pursuing acting roles, and has been seen as a regular on the Hollywood premiers, parties and outlet-openings circuit.